Tattoo care, tattoo horror stories, with the odd happy ending thrown in. Care to share?

Question

Got my first tattoo today, I love it!

I think I already do want another! This could be very very bad. I don't want to look like a biker babe!

Answer 1

Got my first tattoo 6 years ago. The guy's name was Big Dave. A real scruffy badass looking guy. He asked if I minded if he watched the rest of Coronation Street before we started. He did a great job. Same advice as above...no sun for a few days, don't scratch or pick, don't get it wet etc. He said the majority of tattooed folks end up getting more than one.

Answer 2

I've got 12 tattoos--no horror stories to tell. Tattoo care: Keep it covered for 4 hours after you get it. Remove the bandage, wash gently with warm water, then apply a LIGHT coat of ointment, such as Bacitracin. Do this for 2 days. After that, keep it moist by applying moisturizer for about a week. Don't pick at the scab, even if it itches!

Answer 3

well I'd like to start out by saying that I too love tattoo's I currently have 10 but must admit that on my 9th tattoo I had major problems from the tattoo I had gotten the tattoo one year ago sunday and after a few days the area around my tattoo became red and swellin I was admitted to the hospital for 3 days where I was given IV medications and then later released to see yet another doctor that had to at the end cut half of the tattoo from my body . I never thought I'd have another tattoo done but I did and didnt have any problems but I still continue to have problems where part of my 9th tattoo is. the guy that gave me my 9th tattoo was never charged or sued for what he did to me because he doesn't have any assests for me to get anything from but the funny thing is that he knew what he had done wrong he fled town two weeks after he had given me my tattoo.

Answer 4

I personally wash the tattoo a few times a day with antibacterial soap and put lubriderm on it a few times a day. My horror story... one of my tattoos was infected and my arm swelled up like a sausage and I had to go to the ER and get antibiotics via IV... but the tattoo is fine... I guess they all are a happy ending..lol I have 15 so far.... 1 on my leg, 1 on my neck, 1 on my hand and the rest on my arms...

Answer 5

I love tattoos! I have six and I did have a problem with one of them. I was told how good this tattoo artist was, so I went over and looked at his work and met him and then made an appointment with him to re-color a red rose on my right ankle that I had done years before. I also had him add a vine around my ankle. He did an awful job! Some of the lines on the vines looked crooked and the rose petals swelled up really bad. I looked like I had a 3D tattoo there! I did some research on line and thought maybe I had a reaction to the red ink. I went and talked to him and showed it to him, but he was no help. He kept telling me it would go down. It also itched really bad. I went and talked to another tattoo artist and he recommended not doing anything to it for at least a year until the swelling had gone down and to put itch-x on it and just leave it alone. I did that and finally after 2 years the swelling and "welts" had gone down and I went back to the second artist and he re-did the rose and touched up the vine and then added to the vine as well, so now it comes down on top of my foot. The whole experience made me mad, but didn't stop me from anymore tattoos....I have gotten three more since that one...=) Just make sure you go to someone really good who stands behind their work. Good luck with your tatt!!!

Answer 6

Well my uncle who is like 45 years old showed up to the ceremony all coked up. He was acting like a total freak. He is diabetic and not supposed to drink but does anyway and totally cannot hold his liquor at all. On top of this he is a ego-maniac , constant liar, and a prick. He got all sh*t-faced and started hitting on this 17 y/o girl. He was messing around with her and she put him in a head lock or something and he was so messed up that he fell and hit his face off of a table. All of a sudden I look over and he has blood running all down his face and is all disorientated and stumbling around. The police and an ambulance had to come and take him away. If that wasn't enough my other uncle took acid or ecstacy or something and was pretty much re-enacting Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas in the lawn behind the building the reception was in. People were hanging out inside and outside so everyone saw him. He ended up throwing up everywhere outside and I stepped in it.

Answer 7

Getting your first tattoo is a bit like losing your virginity. After the first time you can't stop yourself wanting lots more!

BTW I would be interested to see your new tattoo...

Answer 8

Keep it covered until the bleeding stops(if you are bleeding). Make sure not to let it get dry. Do not overuse what you put on it, a little bit goes a long way. I have 10 tats and have used A&D ointment with all of them. I plan on getting more, they are quite addicting. If you wanna see pics I have some on my myspace page

www.myspace.com/tattood_blue_eyed_girl

Answer 9

I got a tat as well. Had mine done in New Mexico. The artist looked like a guy you really didn't ever want to touch you. He did a magnificent job though. I heard that it hurts. I say it did not. I never broke a sweat or flinched. But then again, I have an extrordinarily high pain tollerance as well. I am known to have a surgury and refuse pain meds simply because I do not feel the pain, or cut or burn myself quite badly and hardly acknowlege the injury. All my friends have seen me do this.

Answer 10

now you'll want another. Had a friend get harley davidson on her lower back and they forgot a letter in harley...keep it moist, and sleep on old sheets, or the ink will (bleed) out into your sheets for a few days,, keep it outta the sun for a week or so